fall inside a hole
First Set (1989)
First written August 22, 2023
The First Time Set (はじめてのセット) was released in 1989 as a starter set aimed at younger children. Unlike other sets of the era, this set came in a fully contained box instead of a liftoff lid. The set includes a new power 0 series Shinkansen based on the updated Hikari with Light but does not include the light feature. The layout is similar to the No.2 set layout used in many smaller sets. The set includes several exclusive or uncommon items including the only use of J-32 Deluxe Railroad Crossing with Sound in a set as well as small yellow bridge piers that only appeared in a handful of older sets in orange and some accessories also used in the Tomy Train range.
The front of the box extols some of the play features of Plarail. Starting on the left near the child sitting and playing with rail, it says, approximately: I never get tired of Plarail. Plarail begins by connecting the rails. You may not be able to do it well at first. However, as you make connections, you will gradually become better at it. Even small children can create right-hand curves and left-hand curves as they wish. Every time you assemble it, you'll find a new way to play, and you'll never get bored. Near the child pushing the Hikari by hand: A toy with freedom. There are no rules when playing with Plarail. The train runs on batteries, but once you turn it off, you can play with it by pushing it with you hands. The rail can be used on both the front and the back. Turn the right curve rail upside down to make a left curve rail. You can also make curvy tracks, straight tracks, and overpasses. You can play freely in a small room or a large room. Plarail is a game that teaches you the joy of creation. Near the cartoon accessories: The number of parts continues to increase. You can buy parts one after another and connect them to make it bigger. Shinkansen and D51 and commuter trains. There are over 40 types of trains and freight cars. We have 50 types of parts for point rails, traffic lights, tunnels, iron bridges, garages, etc. Expanding the dream world of railways drawn by children. Near the child twisting a rail: Durable and safe Plarail. The rails are made of soft polyethylene material. It is safe even if stepped on or twisted. Even small children can play with peace of mind. 30 years of history is proof of trust. More than 30 years have passed since Plarail was released. The Shinkansen line opened between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka in 1964. The history of Plarail is older than the Shinkansen. Parents, have you ever played with Plarail when you were a child? Throughout this time, Plarail has stubbornly maintained its standard, incorporating various parts and new trains to make children's dreams come true. We are catching up. The rear of the box shows pretty much all of the trains (headed Which vehicles are running near you? Vehicle/Road Cars), accessories (You can create your own Plarail world! Scenery parts) and rail (Double track and grade crossings as you like! Rail parts) on sale in 1989.
Set contents
| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces |
0 series Shinkansen (new power without
front headlight) |
 |
| 1 |
R-01 Straight Rail |
 |
| 8 |
R-03 Curve Rail |
 |
| 4 pieces |
R-11 Turnout Rail (two
pairs) |
 |
| 2 pieces |
J-3 Iron Bridge (two side pieces only) |
 |
| 5 pieces |
J-32 Deluxe Railroad Crossing with Sound |
 |
| 4 |
Bridge supports |
 |
| 2 |
Standing tree with square base |
 |
| 1 |
Stoplight |
 |
| 2 pieces |
Track to surface ramps (one each input and
output) |
 |
The 0 series Shinkansen trains ran on the Tokaido Shinkansen line from their introduction on October 1st, 1964 until 2000 on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, with some temporary 0-series trains running until December 2008. The 0 series was iconic and still in regular use in 1989 and would have made a good introduction to Plarail. The front of the box includes several blurbs about the theory of play and how a young child could start by rolling the trains on the floor by hand, then run them on batteries, then start to set up rails and accessories, and parts of the set like the track-to-surface ramps are meant to help facilitate this.
The 0 series included is an early Thailand-made example from the new power Hikari with Light 0-series toolings. The engine does not include the light and thus is also missing the second contact strip running back up the chassis.
The intermediate and tail car are the regular early Thailand molds that include remnants from the 1980s remote control 0-series tooling.
This set is the only set to include the new-for-1989 J-32 Deluxe Railroad Crossing with Sound, although it was sold individually for many years. The crossing has similar lowering gates to other crossings and includes a small bell triggered by a bump in the rail. One side of the crossing has three LEGO-style studs while the bell on the other side has a three by three pattern on top where the included stoplight or square-based trees can be attached.
Separately fitted ramps allow Tomica or other small cars to cross the rail and the railroad crossing signs are larger than other crossings.
This set includes four yellow bridge supports that can be used to set up an Iron Bridge without having to be elevated on girders. These pieces were originally released in orange in a few early 1980s sets such as the Melody D51 set shown on the box for the Basic No.1 D51 Set. I would like to see what the original manual for this set calls these pieces.
The set includes two standing trees with square Tomy Trains-style bases and the stoplight also used in Tomy Trains as well as some other Plarail accessories like the Automatic Turnout. All of the accessories in this set are marked as made in Thailand.
These track to surface ramps appear to be the same as the grey and later dark blue ones released in some Tomy Train sets and accessories. They are marked A and B underneath. This molding has reappeared in a similar starter set in traditional light blue.
The rails in my copy of the set are a mix of Japan and Thailand made rails. The switches in my set were made in Thailand while the curve rails are marked made in Japan. I suspect the previous owner mixed pieces between sets because there are both roughtop and tread over roughtop rails. The original set probably came with all early Thailand production rails, as everything else included was produced in Thailand.
The layout is another variation on the old No.2 set layout and uses two extra turnouts to let the train run onto or up from the floor. I like the bridge supports, it looks much nicer than the modern "bridges" that are also made to sit on the ground.
Click for longer video with sound
The dinging of the bell is timed with the wheels of the train so the rhythm is similar to that of an actual train's wheels click-clacking over a joint in the rails.
If the ramps are positioned just right, you can get a train to go down one and then back up the other.
I like many of the exclusive pieces to this set, and having a non-lit variant of the new power 0 series is cool.